The American Trucking Assns. and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Assn. both spoke out on the subject of mandated black boxes for trucks last week.

Both made public their comments addressed to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which called for comment on electronic on-board recorders for hours-of-service compliance in September. The FMCSA is considering a rule that would require the devices -- referred to as EOBRs -- in many trucks.
In its comments, the ATA acknowledged changing attitudes toward black boxes in its membership. However, the ATA said government must provide strong evidence that a mandate would yield real safety benefits. The ATA said one reason for slow voluntary adoption is the possibility that black box data could be used in civil litigation. So all data must clearly belong to the fleets and off limits for enforcement beyond drivers HOS, the ATA said.
The ATA also expressed concern with the cost of buying, installing, operating and maintaining EOBR systems
Meanwhile, OOIDA came out swinging. In a Dec. 3 press release, the group said that mandated EOBR would be unconstitutional and since both electronic and paper logs require driver input, would not yield a more accurate HOS compliance record.
“EOBRs are instruments used by government actors to conduct a suspicionless search in clear violation of the standards set forth” in case law, OOIDA said.